Trainee pilot injured after plane skids on landing

A Fire and Rescue Department photo of the plane that skidded off the runway at Langkawi International airport: Source: Bernama Twitter

LANGKAWI: A female trainee pilot was slightly injured when the training plane she was handling skidded off the runway while landing at the Langkawi International Airport on Wednesday (March 30) night.

Kedah Fire and Rescue Department director Sayani Saidon said they received an emergency call regarding the incident at 8.15pm Wednesday before a team from the Langkawi Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) was rushed to the scene.

"The incident involved a Diamond-14 commercial training aircraft that skidded off the runway and caused the 28-year-old victim to suffer minor injuries to the waist and knees on both legs.

"The victim was removed by the fire brigade and was sent to the Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi," he said in a statement Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Langkawi OCPD Asst Comm Shariman Ashari, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile, at least two flights were stranded due to the incident and among the passengers involved were media practitioners who were on their way home after attending a programme there.

According to Putrajaya Media Club secretary Samantha Tan, who is also a Bernama journalist with its Putrajaya bureau, she and other passengers who were supposed to depart at 8.10pm for the KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2) were still on board their plane on the runway as of 10.30pm Wednesday.

"The situation on board is still under control although there are children crying, and the plane crew is distributing food to passengers. It is still unsure when the plane can continue with the journey," she said.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said the Diamond DA-40D 9M-HMW aircraft operated by HM Aerospace Sdn Bhd (MHA) lost control before skidding off the runway while landing.

CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Captain Chester Voo said the incident caused damage to the aircraft structure, but the aircraft was removed at 10.25pm Wednesday to ensure the safety of runway operations.

"The runway was opened to commercial flights at 10.29pm,” he said in a statement Wednesday.

The Air Accident Investigation Bureau under the Transport Ministry will conduct investigations in accordance with Part XXVI of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016. - Bernama